Marilena Fatigante

Marilena Fatigante is a Researcher in Social Psychology at the Department of Psychology of Developmental and Socialization Processes at Sapienza University of Rome. She specializes in qualitative research methods including ethnography and conversation analysis, focusing on medical communication (particularly oncology), educational interactions, and institutional discourse. Her work examines doctor-patient dynamics, intercultural medical encounters, and the role of companions in healthcare settings. She teaches courses on socialization processes and communication in medical contexts, and advises doctoral students in the Social Psychology program.

Her research integrates conversation analysis with ethnographic methodologies to study healthcare interactions, including oncology consultations, family communication, and institutional practices. Notable contributions include analyzing treatment recommendation communication, patient involvement in medical decisions, and the impact of digital technologies on doctor-patient interaction. She collaborates internationally with institutions like UCLA and Sorbonne Nouvelle, and leads the LINC research group (Language, Interaction and Culture) at Sapienza.

Recent work explores miscommunication in oncology visits, the role of companions in intercultural healthcare, and the ethical dimensions of qualitative research using audio/video recordings. Her teaching spans undergraduate and postgraduate programs in psychology, education, and healthcare management, emphasizing applied qualitative methods and discourse analysis.