Many authors have investigated dynamic characteristics of the oil film in journal bearings theoretically. These characteristics can be expressed in terms of stiffness and damping coefficients on the basis of the linearized theory, and have been applied for practical problems, although they do not necessarily agree with experimental results. The present authors verify the validity of the linearized theory by examining the oil film condition in journal bearings theoretically and experimentally. Conclusions are as follows : Considerable pressure change is caused by the squeeze and strip effects on the unloaded side of the steady-state oil film, and gives significant influences on the stiffness and damping coefficients.