Digital image correlation techniques were applied to compressive strain recovery experiments of glassy network isomers to study architectural contributions to deformational response. Strain recovery experiments provided a direct comparison of network isomer structure on viscoelastic deformation. Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) was cured with 3,3'- and 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl sulfone (33DDS and 44DDS). The comparison revealed the networks have similar elastic and plastic strain components, but differ in anelastic strain response. DGEBA cured with 44DDS developed pre-yield anelastic strain at a significantly higher rate attributed to increase in free volume, molecular motions and energy dissipation. In contrast, DGEBA cured with 33DDS displayed lower pre-yield energy dissipation attributed to lower free volume and molecular motions, but exhibited a higher degree of post-yield strain-softening due to larger segmental rearrangements. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.