Theoretical lens

Theoretical unit

Category

Snippet of raw data

I#01’s utility of life (I have no sense of happiness in Beijing, and I come to Beijing just for earning money)

Stimulation

Physical strength, energy

I usually have no time to rest and feel very tired

Internal

Comfortable

Somatic discomfort such as fatigue and hunger

I make toys at home at night and come out to sell them in the daytime. I come out for a whole day and am not back at noon... grab a bite to eat usually noodles and dried vegetables... stay here from morning to night (selling toys). I can’t sleep for a long time, and sometimes bed at one or two o’clock in summer night

External

Comfortable

Living conditions and environments

The place where I live always needs to be demolished, so I have been changing places, and I don’t have a permanent residence... Now I live in a yard where the rent is a few hundred yuan per month and the space is not large. I make my own meals, and the traffic around is OK. There is a small shop behind the yard if I need to buy something, which can meet the basic needs of life, and I usually do not buy anything

Status

Occupation

After coming to Beijing in 2008, I have been selling toys for children, and because the city management staff always check on us, I have changed many places to sell toys

Behavioral

confirmation

What should be done

My son and daughter are both in the rural home and they are not living very well because they can’t find any jobs to do... I am making money in Beijing by myself in order to help them more.

And they don’t have any opinions about my work and life

Affection

Interpersonal communication and emotions

I feel lonely in Beijing, but there is no way to change such situation... Usually, my son, daughter and I don’t have much contact, nor do they call, and we only call when something happens, and never call when nothing happens

Physical

well-being

Health conditions

I often feel sick, sometimes I feel pain in my neck and back, and I always have leg pain and headache

Social

well-being

Social relations

I have no fellow in Beijing, and my son and daughter usually have little contact with me... I don’t care much about the my relationship with them

I#08’s utility of life (I used to feel happy when my child lived with me, but now I feel flat )

Stimulation

Physical strength, energy

Sometimes I feel a little tired, but the overall situation is OK. When I am tired, I rest

Internal

Comfortable

Somatic comfort

I have plenty of time to rest. I rest when I want to... I exercise and occasionally go out with friends

External

Comfortable

Living conditions

and environments

Now I live in the house I bought. The space of the house is small, but the sanitary conditions are OK. The amenities around my house are very good

Status

Occupation and income

I started to do building materials business in 2003, and my income is OK. I also bought my own house in Beijing... But now the national policy has a strong pressure on the building materials industry, and the good development environment is coming to an end. I’m ready to change my profession

Behavioral

confirmation

Do reasonable and valuable things

I live alone in Beijing now, because Beijing is the city that responds most quickly to current events and policies, and life here is also very convenient... My child is studying in another place and Beijing is a transfer station for me. In the future, I will live in the city where my child live. And I will buy houses for myself and my child in that city