Background For novice Q methodology researchers, the development of the concourse is challenging. This challenge is exacerbated by the paucity of literature focusing on the development of the concourse.

Aim To highlight the lack of strategy related to concourse development in Q methodology literature and to undertake a selected literature review to suggest frameworks for concourse development to guide researchers.

Discussion A limited search conducted using CINAHL PLUS appraised the variety of concourse strategies used in Q studies. Of 44 papers located, 23 used no strategy while the others used one of four types of strategy: thematic, profession-specific, broader healthcare and social care frameworks or a framework that the researchers devised specifically for their research.

Conclusion The Q methodology literature frequently lacks discussion about the development of the concourse. Therefore, studies that focus on concourse development should be a focus of future research, along with the further development of the ideas put forward in this paper for possible frameworks.

Implications for practice This paper will raise awareness inside and outside the Q methodology community that novice researchers want to use Q methodology but may require more detail about how to construct robust concourses.