An IUSB professor and his students plan to use hundreds of Michiana church-goers as part of a new study on prayer.

For months, they have been preparing the experiments that use some unique approaches, and the first round of tests starts this week.

IUSB psychology professor Kevin Ladd got more than $700,000 in grant money for the project last June, from the John Templeton Foundation.

He says there is still a lot to learn about prayer, and they have got a lot of work left to do in their three-year study that will use around 800 Michiana church-goers.

For the most part, science and religion are strange bedfellows.

“They don't necessarily play well together in some situations, and for lots of good historical reasons they don't get along well in some situations,” Ladd said, laughing.

Ladd, a former pastor, says that has been an obstacle in getting congregations to cooperate long enough for him to explain what he and his students are working on.

“What we're trying to do is not prove whether prayer is right or wrong, whether it’s good or bad, but trying to define and show people what others do when they engage in prayer,” Ladd said.

They will do that in three ways. Some subjects will be given digital cameras to take pictures of what they find spiritual.

Others will be answer questions about where and how they pray; for example, if they are still or moving.

Finally, one of the more interesting tests will use mannequins that will be put in different prayer positions, to elicit reactions that will be compared to those from other denominations.

“They're also trying to imagine what the mannequin is praying, seeing if there's differences depending on the prayer styles,” said Brice Petgen, a Senior undergraduate student that is part of the research team.

Leaders of churches that are participating say taking part in the experience, and hearing the results, could be helpful to their members.

“This will be a great opportunity to explore and experience how they might like to pray, as well as pray in ways they never thought possible,” said Phyllis Wezeman with First Presbyterian Church in South Bend.

This study is focusing on Christianity, using members of numerous denominations.

And Ladd hopes they can work with a psychologist, despite their differences, to help find the definitions he and his students are looking for.

“You can certainly hold a respectful dialogue where you don't have to poke holes in each others ideas, but you’re just trying to understand what it is that they're doing,” Ladd said.

Ladd says after this three-year study is complete, he would be interested in spreading his prayer study beyond the Christian religions.

He would also like to share the results with any congregations interested in hearing them, once he has them in a few years.

Ladd's actually been visiting area churches to find participants, but he still has to round up some more.

He says they would like to hear from any congregations interested, rather than just individuals.

He also says they plan to compensate the congregations with some of the grant money, based on how many members participate.