Shear properties of commercially available polystyrenes with narrow molecular weight distribution have been measured in the transition region from 100°C to 150°C and over a frequency range from 50 Hz to 1000 Hz. The effect of molecular weight or shear properties is established with four polymers ranging in molecular weight from 20,000 to 860,000. A broad, bimodal distribution is also studied. The properties of these polymers, with two different diluents added, illustrate the rather marked qualitative difference in effects caused by diluents. Copyright © 1969 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.