AbstractThe shear creep and creep recovery behavior of narrow molecular weight distribution polystyrene samples of low molecular weight, 1.1 × 103, 3.4 × 103, and 1.57 × 104are reported as a function of temperature, near and above the glass temperature. Time‐temperature equivalence for the total creep compliance is found to be nonapplicable, and in fact the steady‐state recoverable compliance,Je, is a strong function of temperature. The time‐scale shift factors for the recoverable compliance are analyzed in the light of free volume theory. Viscosity data are presented for samples with molecular weights between 1.1 × 103and 6.0 × 105. The temperature dependence of the characteristic time constant ηJecan be explained in terms of free volume concepts whereas that of viscosity η cannot. Effects of residual molecular weight heterogeneity are