Is the h index related to (standard) bibliometric measures and to the assessments by peers? An investigation of the h index by using molecular life sciences data

Jorge Hirsch has proposed the h index as a single-number criterion to evaluate the scientific output of a researcher. Using comprehensive data sets of applicants to the long-term fellowship and young investigator programmes of the European Molecular Biology Organization, we determined the relationship between the h index and three (standard) bibliometric indicators (number of publications, total citation counts, and average journal impact factor) as well as peer assessments to test the convergent validity of the h index. The findings indicate that the h index is a valid indicator for research performance at micro and meso levels. Our results suggest that the h index is a promising rough measurement of the quality of a young scientist's work as it is judged by internationally renowned scientists. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.