Tanya Stivers

Tanya Stivers is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), affiliated with the College of Letters and Science. Her research focuses on uncovering the structural underpinnings of conversation through the lens of naturally occurring social interaction recordings. She employs conversation analysis (CA), often combined with statistical methods, to explore how interactional practices vary across cultural, linguistic, socioeconomic, and developmental contexts.

Stivers holds a PhD in Sociology from UCLA, reflecting her deep institutional roots. Her work bridges sociological theory with empirical analysis of micro-level communication processes, particularly in medical contexts where she examines patient-provider interactions, treatment decision-making, and the sociocultural dimensions of healthcare communication.

Her research interests span conversation analysis methodologies, medical sociology, sociolinguistics, and the study of social interaction in diverse institutional settings. Notable themes include the negotiation of treatment recommendations, antibiotic prescribing practices, and the role of interactional dynamics in shaping moral responsibility and clinical outcomes.

Stivers' publications consistently address how linguistic and conversational structures mediate social relationships and institutional processes, contributing foundational insights to both sociological theory and applied healthcare communication.