Experiments are typically structured in terms of independent, organism, and dependent variables. The independent variable is a manipulated environmental stimulus dimension, the organism-variable is some dimension (e.g., sex, race) of more or less stable characteristics of the organism, and the dependent variable is a behavioral dimension that reflects the influence of the independent and organism-variables. The general objective in experimental research is to define the relationship between the antecedent (independent and organism) variables and the consequent (dependent) variables.