Final answer:
Spence's Theory posits that the steepness of generalization gradients is influenced by prior discrimination training, indicating a direct relationship between prior experiences and responses to similar stimuli.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theory of generalization and discrimination that suggests generalization gradients depend on prior experience with stimuli similar to those used in testing is Spence's Theory. Kenneth W. Spence proposed that the generalization gradient's steepness is influenced by prior discrimination training. The more an organism has been trained to discriminate between different stimuli, the steeper its generalization gradient will be for a new stimulus. This theory underscores the influence of past experiences in shaping responses to similar stimuli and plays a significant role in understanding stimulus generalization and stimulus discrimination processes.
In contrast, Pavlov's work focused on classical conditioning without directly addressing how prior experiences influence generalization gradients. Lashley-Wade dealt with generalization aftereffects following ablation and regrowth on the brain, and Herrnstein focused on the matching law related to response rates in the presence of concurrent variable-interval schedules.