Which term describes a child's tendency to fixate on just one aspect of a problem or object according to Piaget?

Centration is the concept that describes a child's tendency to focus exclusively on one aspect of a situation or object while ignoring other relevant features. This phenomenon is prominently discussed in Piaget's theory of cognitive development, specifically during the preoperational stage. Children in this stage may concentrate on a single dimension of an object, such as height or width, without considering other dimensions simultaneously.

For instance, when presented with two beakers of different shapes but containing the same volume of liquid, a child might fixate on one beaker's height while disregarding its width, leading them to incorrectly conclude that the taller beaker holds more liquid. This reflects a limitation in their cognitive ability to understand that certain properties remain constant despite changes in appearance, which is an essential aspect of the conservation task also studied by Piaget.

Understanding centration helps illustrate the cognitive development process and the gradual shift in children's ability to consider multiple aspects of a situation as they grow older.