A system is provided which enables customized sessions for data gathering and analysis. The system receives data and commands from one or more user devices to generate and modify a session dataset and to select and activate system functions. The results of user inputs and actions are published to other user devices in the session. One or more functions for generating datasets, organizing datasets and analyzing the datasets may be independently selected and activated. The system enables a data gathering and analysis session to be preconfigured with a predetermined set and order of functions or for a session to be conducted with a dynamic selection and activation of functions and a dynamic selection of the orders of functions. In some embodiments, there is provided a software as a service (SaaS) application for implementing the data gathering and analysis session functions.