Shear stress and normal stress relaxation data were collected for a range of shear strains for a polystyrene–dibutyl phthalate solution. Data from single‐step shear strain experiments were used to test time–strain factorability and to check on the applicability of the Lodge–Meissner rule. Significant departures from time–strain factorability were found, but the shear and normal stress data were in excellent agreement with the Lodge–Meissner prediction. Data from double‐step shear strain experiments were used to check the predictions of the K–BKZ and Doi–Edwards theories. It was found that these theories do not generally provide adequate descriptions of double‐step shear strain deformations.