Mystery, complexity, legibility and coherence: A meta-analysis

What the study found

Across the literature, relationships between preference and classic information variables were heterogeneous and often not reproducible.

Limitations

Construct ratings and methods differed; many studies relied on scene images.

Neurodesign interpretation

Environmental preference is not a recipe of four sliders. The meta-analysis shows why user group, scene type and measurement method belong in every claim.

Possible design implications

Use complexity and legibility as measurable variables but do not assume universal monotonic preferences.

Why it stays in the corpus

Retain as counterevidence to simplistic preference formulas.

Study design

Meta-analysis

Population

6,288 participants in usable quantitative studies

Setting

Natural and built scenes

Field

Environmental preference

Mechanism

Information processing, environmental preference

Spatial variable

Complexity, legibility, coherence, mystery

Keywords

complexity, legibility, coherence, mystery, preference