Steven Clayman

Steven Clayman is a Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), specializing in conversation analysis and the study of interaction within societal institutions. His work bridges micro-level interactional processes with broader sociopolitical structures, focusing particularly on media-political dynamics, institutional practices, and the 'interaction order' as conceptualized by Erving Goffman.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Sociology, University of California, Santa Barbara
• M.A. in Sociology, University of California, Santa Barbara
• B.A. in Sociology, Arizona State University

Research Interests: Clayman examines broadcast journalism (e.g., presidential news conferences, news interviews), institutional interaction in law and policing, and the sociological foundations of conversation. He emphasizes how turn-taking, questioning practices, and affiliation strategies reflect and shape power dynamics, institutional norms, and sociopolitical accountability. Recent work explores historical trends in political questioning, gendered interactional patterns, and the role of conversational particles in affiliation.

Awards & Grants: No specific awards listed, but his extensive research output reflects sustained academic recognition. Active grants or funding details are not detailed in the provided texts.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with researchers like John Heritage, Tanya Romaniuk, and Matthew P. Fox on projects analyzing political discourse, legal interactions, and media practices. His work often integrates conversation analysis with statistical methods to study sociopolitical change and institutional behavior.