This study addresses the goals, reasons, and necessities of analyzing the effects of climate responsive strategies and adaptive behavior on thermal comfort in the indoor environments of vernacular architecture. For this purpose, 86 studies were reviewed, including 71 studies about climate responsive strategies and 15 others about adaptive behavior in vernacular architecture and dwellings that were carried out between 2000 and 2018. The research methodology included a statistical survey and analysis of necessities and goals of the studies reviewed in this paper. To this end, the designated studies were analyzed and reviewed from different aspects, such as the history and process of formation, keywords, goals, reasons, and necessities of research.  According to the findings, the most important research goals of climate responsive strategies include (1) analyzing the thermal performance of buildings, and (2) identifying the effects of these strategies on the thermal quality of indoor environments. Moreover, the most prominent research goals of adaptive behaviors in vernacular architecture and residences include (1) evaluating thermal comfort, (2) identifying and analyzing adaptive methods and behaviors, and (3) identifying the existing obstacles. The research necessities of these two areas can also be divided into three sections, i.e. identification of advantages, practical reasons, and addressing research gaps. Another research finding was identification of the concepts pertaining to these two areas.