Examining Built Environmental Correlates of Neighborhood Satisfaction: A Focus on Analysis Approaches

Abstract

Many studies explore environmental correlates of neighborhood satisfaction and provide insights for neighborhood enhancement. This article classifies such studies into ad hoc studies and theory-driven studies. Although ad hoc studies reveal various correlates of neighborhood satisfaction, some offer an incomplete and even biased understanding of neighborhood satisfaction because they have little systematic theoretical foundations. By contrast, theory-driven studies recognize the mechanisms through which neighborhood characteristics affect neighborhood satisfaction and hence provide more robust findings. Then, we review studies on improving neighborhood satisfaction of existing residents in planning practice. Finally, we offer several recommendations for future research.