Therefore Sutton uses qualitative methods to make up for the lack of conceptual clarity regarding “happiness” in children and young people. Sutton seeks to value young people’s own conceptualization of happiness, allowing them to express their own perspective on the matter.
Sutton worked with teens of a British school in two phases. Firstly they were asked to complete happiness maps, and reflect on what they wrote. Some of these teens were then asked to participate in discussion groups and individual interviews.

A happiness map consists of concentric circles, and the center represents the person. The closer the item is to the center, the more relevant it is for that person’s happiness.
Sutton found that happiness is defined very differently by each individual, and that it’s dependent on important relationships, such as family and friends. Most importantly, young people referred to happiness as a spectrum: they mentioned unhappiness and other negative emotions while discussing. This is relevant because it’s an aspect often omitted in other studies.