The effect of kinematic parameters (relative velocity v(rel), relative momentum p(rel), and relative energy E-rel) on the rotational and rovibrational inelastic scatterings of 0(0)K(0)S(1) trans-glyoxal has been investigated by colliding glyoxal seeded in He or Ar with target gases D-2, He, or Ne at different scattering angles in crossed supersonic beams. The inelastic spectra for target gases He and D-2 acquired with two different sets of kinematic parameters revealed no significant differences. This result shows that kinematic factors have the major influence in the inelastic scattering channel competition whereas the intermolecular potential energy surface plays only a secondary role. The well-defined exponential dependence of relative cross sections on exchanged angular momentum identifies angular momentum as the dominant kinematic factor in collision-induced rotationally and rovibrationally inelastic scatterings. This is supported by the behavior of the relative inelastic cross sections data in a "slope-p(rel)" representation. In this form, the data show a trend nearly independent of the target gas identity. Representations involving E-rel and v(rel) show trends specific to the target gas. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.