Final answer:
Anchoring bias is the cognitive bias where one fixates on a single trait of a problem, using an initial piece of information as a reference point for decision-making.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of bias that involves becoming fixated on a single trait of a problem is known as anchoring bias. This cognitive bias occurs when an individual overly relies on an initial piece of information, or 'anchor,' when making decisions. For example, in negotiations, the starting price offered for an item can set the anchor, and all further discussions are influenced by this initial number, whether it's reasonable or not. While other biases, such as confirmation bias, representative bias, and availability bias, also affect decision-making, they involve different mechanisms. Confirmation bias is the tendency to favor information that confirms existing beliefs, representative bias involves judging the likelihood of an event based on how much it resembles typical cases, and availability bias arises when people estimate the probability of an event based on how easily examples come to mind.