Based on the analysis of experimental data from the atmospheric-pressure-metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy (APMOVPE) of carbon-doped GaAs, using trimethylgallium (TMGa) and arsine (AsH3) as growth precursors and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) as dopant precursor, the quantitative relation between control parameters, namely growth temperature and flow rates of CCl4 and AsH3, and hole concentration has been investigated and established, which is p = 5 x 10(8)F(CCl4) F(AsH3)(-1.5)exp(2 x 10(5)/RTg), with the flow rate of TMGa kept constant at 0.78 SCCM. Since this deduction was fully based on the experimental data obtained, the result can well demonstrate the existing doping characteristics, and also agree with the scattered individual expressions previously reported. Finally, an improved CCl4-doping mechanism for the MOVPE growth of GaAs has been presented. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PACS. 81.15.Gh: 68.55.Ln.