324　worldwide　acceleration　recordings　were　selected　to　study　response　spectral　characteristics　including　vertical-to-horizontal　(V/H)　spectral　ratio,　spectral　characteristics　period　which　was　corresponding　to　peak　period　(Tp),　maximum　dynamic　amplification　coefficient　(βmax),　the　maximum　spectral　acceleration　or　maximum　seismic　effect　coefficient　(αmax)　and　the　difference　between　peak　periods　of　two　horizontal　components　(ΔTp).　The　difference　of　some　of　these　parameters　between　vertical　and　horizontal　recordings　was　studied.　The　relationships　between　these　parameters　and　site　conditions,　magnitude　and　epicentral　distance　were　presented.　It　is　concluded　from　the　statistical　results　that　1)　the　commonly　used　value　of　V/H=2/3　in　current　seismic　design　code　is　reasonable　and　acceptable;　2)　vertical　Tp　is　usually　smaller　than　horizontal　one,　and　vertical　Tp　increases　with　epicentral　distance　and　magnitude　increasing,　which　is　almost　independent　of　site　conditions;　3)　αmax　decreases　with　epicentral　distance　increasing.　The　effect　of　site　condition　on　α　is　insignificant　when　the　epicentral　distance　is　large;　4)　there　is　a　certain　difference　between　peak　periods　of　the　response　spectrum　of　two　horizontal　components,　which　increases　slightly　with　the　magnitude　increasing.