The created response is the realized experience of the learner. Each transaction by a learner, will be unique as the learner's frame of mind, situation, and experiences evolve. TD is a continuous variable and a relative term. Michael G. Moore, distance education theorist, first articulated his theory in 1972 but did not propose the term transactional distance until 1980. Building on this foundation, Moore continued to evolve his theory.
Structure refers to how the instructional program is designed.
In this sense, structure reflects the program's capacity to respond to a learner's individual needs. As dialogue increases, structure decreases. As the interaction between a teacher and a learner increases, the existing program's structure of objectives, activities, and assessment decreases to accommodate learner's needs. Bischoff, Bisconer, Kooker, and Woods in 1996 applied Moore's theory of transactional distance to a health profession setting. Their exploratory research using factor analysis disclosed that electronic mail seemed to increase dialogue and decrease transactional distance.