In MANET, the AODV routing protocol with on-demand method has a problem in large control packet overhead. In order to improve this, we first need a comprehensive analysis of correlation between performance metrics and factors affecting the performance of AODV. Selected parameters based on this analysis make it enable to be a more accurate and fair performance analysis, as well as to reduce the time and effort when constructing a scenario for performance analysis. In this paper, various scenarios are configured to apply AODV by varying the values of factors affecting the performance with network simulator QualNet 5.0, and then the results are analysed using performance metrics proposed by IETF MANET working group. This paper also founds a correlation between performance metrics and factors affecting the performance for AODV routing protocol, choosing the values of factors that represent many of the most maximum and minimum values of each performance metrics, and proposes optimal simulation parameters for a more accurate performance evaluation of routing protocols with minimal scenario in experiments. Next, performance comparison of AODV, DSR and DYMO routing protocols based on the proposed simulation parameters is shown which provides a comparative analysis on the performance of on-demand routing protocols. Results of this paper could be very useful for the researcher or service provider who wants to find nice simulation environment or select a proper routing protocol.