Abstract
A new research paradigm has been emerging which holds significant potential for the field of death studies.The qualitative project is a diverse collection of methodologies that focuses its interests on the words, narratives, and stories of individuals and groups. Part of its appeal may lie in the inherent closeness of fit between qualitative inquiry and applied work with the dying and the bereaved.The author introduces the individual articles in this special issue and outlines the development of the project as well as some current issues in qualitative research in thanatology.