The electrical characteristics of YBaCuO thin films sputtered on LaAlO 3 and MgO single-crystal substrates have been measured using a pulsed current technique, to avoid ohmic heating effects- The results are discussed in relation with deposition temperature (for films deposited on LaAlO 3 ) and substrate preparation (for films deposited on MgO). In the latter case, results are also discussed in the framework of a statistical model, which provides an empirical approach for the pinning phenomena in YBaCuO films, when a static magnetic field is applied.